Do you like to eat mussels? You already know how it taste? But if you have never, for sure you want to know what do mussels taste like? Here we will review in full about clams, including how to cook them, and of course about what they taste like.
A little introduction to mussels. The mussels are marine animals that are cheap and easy to cook with various recipes, besides that, shellfish is a versatile food. You can enjoy cooked mussels by topping them on top of the paella for a visual element or you can serve them with crusty bread. Scallops are the perfect food for your fancy evening party, if you don’t know how many pound shrimp for per serving, instead of using shrimp, you can use clams as an exotic and luxurious meal to entertain guests at a dinner party.
For those of you who have never eaten mussels, you may ask, are mussels worth trying? Maybe you should read this article to the end. You’ll know how mussels are, including what they taste like, so it will make you want to try them or not.
What Do Mussels Taste Like?
Mussels have a very mild “ocean” taste with a sweet, perhaps mushroom-like flavour. Its smooth and non-dominant taste makes scallops an addition to a variety of dishes. Perfect for adding to a variety of foods. They also take the character and flavor of the spices used. If an experienced chef cooks scallops, the texture will be slightly chewy and slightly tender. This is the perfect texture for clam dishes.
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Thus, the taste and texture of mussels are firmer than scallops but lighter than clams. All three (scallops, mussels, and clams) are almost the same animal with almost the same taste and texture.
Maybe it can be concluded that the taste of mussels is mild “ocean” with a little light and sweet, like a mushroom taste. The texture is soft, chewy, if cooked properly. The fishiness of mussels is low as well as the properties of oil. The colors are cream and orange.
What flavors work best with mussels?
Here’s a flavor of spices that are suitable to be combined with shellfish dishes. Use these ingredients to cook them well.
- Garlic,
- Parsley,
- Thyme,
- chile,
- saffron,
- peppers,
- dill,
- white wine sauce,
- cilantro,
- Radish cream
Recommended side dishes to enjoy mussels:
- baked potato,
- fresh bread,
- A kind of spaghetti
- rice,
- Pasta,
- Coleslaw
- Garden salad
How variety affects the taste
How the taste of each scallop, because we know that scallops have quite a lot of varieties and of course each has a slightly different taste.
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Shellfish are mollusks that consist of many varieties. In general, they all taste the same but in detail there are of course some differences between each shellfish.
The most common type of shellfish found is blue clams, small in shape but strong in color and taste. Then there is the black clam type, this is a larger type and also includes the most commonly found shellfish. Even black scallops are also widely used in European and American cuisine. While green lip scallops are another type of mussels, they are less popular and not easy to find. Green lip scallops are only available in New Zealand, they are much larger than the previous two and also light in taste.
Mussels Vs. Clams
Both are types of shellfish and are misinterpreted. But visually, the two are easy to distinguish because the shell shape is different. Clams have shells that are lighter in color and more round in shape. While mussels have a darker shell and are oval in shape and have a rough shell texture.
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If you compare the taste, the clams are a bit salty and the texture is more chewy than mussels. Both are mollusks but there are side differences. However, they can be used interchangeably in many dishes. Even if you don’t get mussels for an evening party, you can replace them with clams.
If you make seafood such as chowder, paella, linguine then you can use one of the choices and both types of mollusks can produce delicious dishes for you.
Also see: MSG Substitutes – The 8 Best Choices
How to Steam Mussels
Here we share a simple recipe for steaming clams, either for mussels or clams.
Ingredients
- 4 pounds mussels
- Olive oil as much as 2 tablespoons
- One onion, diced
- 4 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 1 cup vegetable stock or broth
- Three-quarters of a cup of white wine
- Parsley for beauty or decoration
- Lemon wedges for decoration too
Methods:
- Rinse the mussels and make sure they are all cleaned, no more beards, all shells must be covered, if you find one that is open and cannot close then throw it away.
- Take a skillet and heat the olive oil, over medium heat, and sauté the onion, garlic, about 2 minutes.
- Put the mussels in the pan, pour in the broth, and add the wine too. Cover with a lid, and steam for five minutes or until all the clams are exposed.
- Then lift the clams into a bowl, you can pour the clams into 4 bowls, garnish on top with parsley and lemon wedges, serve with bread.
Useful Cooking Tips
Here are some cooking tips to produce delicious and evocative dishes:
1. Use scented liquids
When you cook mussels in their shells, this means they are steamed. This allows this seafood to take on some of the flavor. So, instead of using water, you are better off using broth, white wine, tomato sauce, and coconut milk.
2. Give the raw mussels a quick check
If you buy scallops at a fish shop, make sure your shells have no beard anymore, so you still need to check again when you get home. Then put the clams in a colander and rinse everything thoroughly with cold water. Remove the dirt using a small knife, the clam shells should be closed, if any are open then lightly tap to close. If there are mussels that have their shells open, and can’t close anymore, get rid of them.
3. Build a flavor profile
Instead of using the clams in a liquid and then cooking them, it’s better to stir-fry aromatic herbs like onions, garlic, and chilies. This flavor will be absorbed by the clams and this stir-fry will become a thick liquid and can serve as a delicious sauce.
4. Use a lid and keep it on
The next tip for cooking scallops is to use a lid and keep it on. Do not remove the cover every minute to check whether the food is cooked or not. This causes steam to escape and increases your cooking time (wasting a lot of time). However, you can shake the pan slightly left and right so that everything cooks evenly.
5. Fresh herbs must be added at the end
Don’t be too quick to add fresh herbs as they may wilt. For a beautiful display, add parsley just as the dish is being served.
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6. Check for unopened shells
Before serving delicious dishes from mussels, make sure all the shells are open, if closed it can be a sign that the mussels have died before harvesting. So, if you find mussels that haven’t opened when they’re ripe, throw them away.
How to Eat a Mussel
How to eat clams? We recommend that you know this information before you order mussles at a restaurant. Don’t let after ordering you don’t know how to eat scallops.
To enjoy the shellfish, there are two ways you can go: One; Take the shell with your hands and suck the flesh into your mouth. If you want a cleaner, less messy option, you can use a fork. Use a special fork for seafood to pull the clam meat into your mouth. You can throw the shell into a special bowl that has been provided for mussels or clams consumers, just like when you enjoy delicious crab.